Open AccessAdsorption from Mixtures of Cationic/Non-Ionic Surfactants on to a Polystyrene Surface
Author(s) -
Tejas R Desai,
Swati Dixit
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
adsorption science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2048-4038
pISSN - 0263-6174
DOI - 10.1177/026361749701500507
Subject(s) - pulmonary surfactant , adsorption , chemistry , cationic polymerization , bromide , zeta potential , polystyrene , ionic bonding , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , nanoparticle , polymer , ion , biochemistry , engineering
The adsorption of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and nonyl phenyl ethoxylates (NP-n, where n = 13, 20 and 30) on to polystyrene powder has been studied. Concentrations of surfactant solutions ranging from below CMC to well above CMC were investigated. In a single surfactant system, only the cationic surfactant (CTAB) was found to adsorb appreciably while nonionic surfactants showed negligible adsorption. In mixed surfactant systems, the cationic surfactant was found to induce significant co-adsorption of non-ionic surfactants. The increased adsorption of non-ionic surfactants has been attributed to the formation of non-ideal mixed hemimicelles due to intercomponent lateral interactions. However, non-ionic surfactants with longer hydrophilic chains did not form mixed hemimicelles with CTAB. In general, zeta potential measurements support the adsorption results.